Ching Johnson

Ching Johnson
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
Height Weight	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 210 lb (95 kg)
Teams	New York Rangers New York Americans
Nationality	Canadian
Born	December 7, 1897(1897-12-07), Winnipeg, MB, CAN
Died	June 16, 1979(1979-06-16) (aged 81), Silver Spring, MD, USA
Pro Career	1925 – 1944
Hall of Fame, 1958

Ivan Wilfred 'Ching' Johnson (December 7, 1897, - June 16, 1979) was a Canadian professional defenceman who played for the New York Rangers and New York Americans in the National Hockey League. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Johnson was regarded as one of the hardest bodycheckers to ever play the game.

Playing Career

Ching's NHL career lasted 12 years. He joined the New York Rangers during the 1926–27 NHL season, spending 11 seasons with the team. He was an important member of the Rangers teams that won Stanley Cups in 1928 and 1933. His last season in the NHL was with the New York Americans during the 1937–38 NHL season. During his NHL career he scored 43 goals, had 50 assists, and served 969 penalty minutes.

After he left the NHL, his hockey days were not yet over. Ching took on the dual role of player-head coach of the Minneapolis Millers for 2 seasons and afterwards served as the head coach of the Washington Lions. His playing career ended with a stint in 1943-1944 with the Hollywood Wolves of the PCHL.

After his hockey career was over, Ching became a general contractor in the construction business and later settled permanently in Maryland.

When, in 1978, it was announced that he had cancer, thousands of letters and cards poured into him. Ching Johnson died in Silver Spring, Maryland, on June 16 1979, at the age of 81.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Player in 1958.

Awards & Achievements

• Stanley Cup Championships (1928 & 1933)
• NHL First All-Star Team Defence (1932 & 1933)
• NHL Second All-Star Team Defence (1931 & 1934)
• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958
• Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2004
• “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• Selected to Manitoba's All-Century Second All-Star Team

Career Statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1919–20	Winnipeg Monarchs	WSrHL		7	6	3	9	10
1920–21	Eveleth Reds	USAHA
1921–22	Eveleth Reds	USAHA
1922–23	Eveleth Reds	AHA		20	4	0	4	26
1923–24	Minneapolis Millers	USAHA		20	9	3	12	34
1924–25	Minneapolis Rockets	USAHA		40	8	0	8	43
1925–26	Minneapolis Millers	CHL		38	14	5	19	92		3	2	0	2	6
1926–27	New York Rangers	NHL		27	3	2	5	66		2	0	0	0	8
1927–28	New York Rangers	NHL		42	10	6	16	146		9	1	1	2	46
1928–29	New York Rangers	NHL		8	0	0	0	14		6	0	0	0	26
1929–30	New York Rangers	NHL		30	3	3	6	82		4	0	0	0	14
1930–31	New York Rangers	NHL		44	2	6	8	77		4	1	0	1	17
1931–32	New York Rangers	NHL		47	3	10	13	106		7	2	0	2	24
1932–33	New York Rangers	NHL		48	8	9	17	127		8	1	0	1	14
1933–34	New York Rangers	NHL		48	2	6	8	86		2	0	0	0	4
1934–35	New York Rangers	NHL		29	2	3	5	34		4	0	0	0	2
1935–36	New York Rangers	NHL		47	5	3	8	58
1936–37	New York Rangers	NHL		35	0	0	0	2		9	0	1	1	4
1937–38	New York Americans	NHL		31	0	0	0	10		6	0	0	0	2
1938–39	Minneapolis Millers	AHA		47	2	9	11	60		4	0	2	2	0
1939–40	Minneapolis Millers	AHA		48	0	4	4	26		3	0	0	0	2
1940–41	Marquette Ironmen	NMHL
1941–42	Washington Lions	AHL
1942–43	Washington Lions	AHL
1943–44	Hollywood Wolves	PCHL
NHL Totals				436	38	48	86	808		61	5	2	7	161

Gallery

NHL President Calder presents the Stanley Cup to the Rangers, April 13, 1933.

Earl Seibert, Doug Brennan, Ching Johnson, Jean Pusie, Ott Heller

Earl Robertson clears the puck while Ching Johnson guards the net against the Canadiens, December 12, 1937.

External Links

• 'Ching' Johnson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ching Johnson’s biography at Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
• Ivan 'Ching' Johnson's biography at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame